Desk drawer for typewriters, including elevating typewriter supports



' Nov. 30, 1948.

- Filed March 5, 1945 DESK DRAWER ELEVATING TYPEWRITER SUPPORTS c BALZI ET AL OR TYPEWRITERS, INCLUDING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR$ Cums/v12 BALZ PAUL fwewvccz-p BY ("l/ESTER llPlsrs/v e ATTOENEYSK Nov. 30, 1948. c; BALZI ET AL DESK DRAWER FOR TYPEWRITERS, INCLUDING ELEVATING TYPEWRITER SUEPORTS Filed March 5, 1945 5 she ts-s eet 2 IN V EN T 0R5 C1 Ems/v; B/uz/ PA UL JU/FHVCOFF BY 61955721? HJWSTENPART @745, m Web,

ATTORNEY J Nov. 30, 1948.

Filed March 5, 1945 c. BAL-Zl ET AL 2,455,156 DESK DRAWER FOR TYPEWRITERS, INCLUDING ELEVATING TYPEWRITER SUPPORTS s Shets-Sheet .5 I

INVENTOR) CLEMEA/TE BnLz/ Paul- J'oAmveoFF BY .C'HESTEIP H. P/JTE/VP/MT Patented Nov. 3%, 1948 pmrao STATES mire-NT :QE'FICE CLUDING ELEVATING SUPPQRTS 'RYPEWRITER Clemente BalzLiPaul Juravcoffand-.Ghesten-H. Ristenpart, SanlFranciseo, Calif.;.. saideBalzi and. said .luravcoff assignor's.tosalidlRistenpart Applieaticn MaTch 3 1945ySeria1 N} 580374 1 The invention relates genera-llymto ai type: writer. desk and hasfor one. of its. obiectsithe provision of improvedmeansrin a deskwforstoring,

a typewriter when not. muse .andcfor supporting thegsame for use. The inventionjis particularly suitable for portable typewriters whichiarerelatively light in weight and compact.

Most. of the conventional:.ofiiceor:homezwriting desks have. no simple; easily manipulated and economically made means for holding atypewriter at the correct typing level and-tion storingit away when the typewriter isx-not'in use. The conventional. typewriter: desks having their ldiu" placeable top: portion carrying: the atypewriter render the greater portiontofrthedesk top useless when the typewriterisin use, and-furthermore: the mechanism used is .costly,.com.p1icated;

and the'typewriter must be boltedin place.

lnrsome desks a drawer has been usetfor-hold-- ing the-typewriter and which drawer; is provided.

with, a side or'end thatmay be swung-.down..to make the typewriter accessible. The objections to this structure are.that..the'-desk top mustwbe obiec'tionably high if. the typewriter .isatopberat the correct; height fortyping, or .elseithetype writer will be objectionably .low; if .thetop of the desk is at the correct level.

Still other attempts have been. made to:.pro-- videa convenientsupport for-thextypewriterqin which the typewriter is. bolted or fastened to the support so as to prevent its dislodgement: during manipulation of the support. able, both because supports requiring the securement of the typewriter thereto are generally quite complicated and expensive to make and be-z cause the typewriter cannot be. lifted freely from the support for carrying. to some-other place. A1so,.such structures generally render. a substantial portion of the desk unfit for. anyotherpurpose than for the typewriter whether. the latter is used or not.

Another object of this inventionzis the provision of a desk and of improved. meanstherein for overcoming. all of the above-mentioned. ob-

jections, and a still further object isitheaprovisionof means for insuring against-accidental injuryto a typewriter in using the invention. Other objects and advantageswill appear in the description and in the drawings,

- In the drawings Fig. l is a fragmentary per-- spective view of a conventional desk illustrating one embodiment of the invention: and showing in dottedline an outline of the typewriter-before being elevated for used.

Fig; 21s. a fragmentary view; similar to thattof:

This is objection- 5. showingsxthe typewriter.- support in elevated.

position.

As already mentioned. the present invention is particularly intended iornse. with-portable, typewriters-which are"relatively-light; compact and which .-a-re frequently carried by theiusenon trips and-should thereforeheifree fronnany securenient to a desk corv to other. support.

In: detail, the desk: illustrated.- in Fig. l .is pro videol with. a! top i that ;is atuthedesired writing height. from the; floor; whichom-ay. be from" about twenty-nine: to about; thirty-.onerinches. This desk is otthe conventional-type having apedestal 2; at one iof.--both 'ends-. supporting. the topand havingwknee space-below the :top atuone. side :of one pedestal; if only .oneds usedorxbetween the pedestals-whereawe-aroused; Each pedestal-is ondinarily provided with --one on more. drawer openings .for carrying sliding id-rawers 3 therein.

The drawer openingsiand drawersarenotnecessarily of standard sizesx. Sometimes'some drawers may: be. relatively:.shallow :.iandi some" may be usuallyadeep.

The; present winwention'wrelates particularly to the topsdrawer; inneitherta left one. right-hand pedestal :of a desmalthough. it is preferablyused on the left. :hand pedestalxas ithe: desk appears iromnthez-userfsu side. as indicated "in-Figs. ,1; 2. 2 Sa-idraipperzdrawerds. slid-able: 2011 the -toonven--' tienala-sli-des t: ('Eflgszafil. 6) that: :are secured to opposed i sides-of the: pedestal. :On-ly'the slide on the afar side .is indicated" in *Figa 5," 6;:1it. being understood that. a:=s'iiunilanlslideris :on. .thei-rnear side that iSw-IlOt. shown. A cross; bar 5-;across which said drawer zslides: definesztherlowera edge of the: drawer opening.

The drawer itself comprisesamainxframe:that is -made. up: of a.:vertical:ironta-endnpanel wand a rearz-end: panel I that --.respectiyely connect :t-he corresponding oppositesends of elongated opposed s-i-de.-frame mambo-n8; 9; :the :latter .aframe imem- 3 her being the one nearest a user that is seated at the desk.

At the forward end of the drawer adjacent the front panel is a horizontal bottom portion l (Fig. that extends along said front panel and between said side frame members, while a second horizontal bottom portion H extends along the rear panel I and between the rear ends of the side frame members. However, said portion H is relatively short and is offset below the level of the lower edges of ends of said side frame members whereby it will engage the cross bar 5 of the desk when the drawer is pulled out in extended position thereby preventing the operator from accidently withdrawing the drawer completely from the desk. This portion II also functions as a spacer so that a sufficient length of the rear end of the drawer will be held in the pedestal to insure against objectionable tipping of the outer end of the drawer under the weight of the typewriter when the drawer is in extended position. The side frame members 8, 9 may be considered as the two lateral sides of the. drawer. The side 8 may be exactly like the corresponding sidewall in any conventional drawer, but the side 9 is centrally relieved-from its lower edge intermediate its opposite end portions to provide a recess [3 (Figs. 2, 4) adapted to provide knee room for the knees of an operator facing said side 9. The bottom portions I10, H are positioned at opposite ends of said recess outwardly thereof; hence they would not interfere with the knees.

Within said drawer and between said end portions l0, H is a platform l4 that is adapted to extend across the space between said portions, and when in lowered position- (Fig. 5) forms the main bottom of the drawer.

A lip l5 along the forward edge of platform I4 is adapted to rest on a ledge l6 formed on portion Hi. When said lip is on said ledge the rear end of the platform extends over portion II and its rear edge is closely adjacent the rearend panel 1. Thus the platform is horizontal.

Along the front edge of the platform is an upstanding relatively wide rib I! that extends the width of the platform. A pair of similar parallel links l8 are respectively pivotally secured at one of their ends to the ends of said rib as at l9, and are pivotally secured at their opposite ends at to the side walls 8, 9 at points adjacent the.

front panel 6 and adjacent the bottom portion 10.

A second pair of similar parallel links 2! are pivotally secured at one of their ends to the side edges of the platform It at points closely adjacent the rear end edge of said platform as indicated at 22, while theopposite ends of said links are pivotally connected at 23 with the sides 8, 9 of said drawer. Said links 2| are substantially horizontal when the platform is supported on portions H), H, as are the links it. The lengths of said links l8, 2| are such that upon pulling upwardly on handle 24 that is adjacent rib IT, the platform will swing upwardly to the elevated position seen in Fig. 6 and will be maintained horizontal during and after said movement. Thus a typewriter thereon, such as is indicated in dot dash lines at 25 in Figs. 5, 6, need not be secured to the platform, but will move upwardly with the latter without fear of dislodgement, and the operator can freely lift the typewriter from the platform at any time.

Said platform preferably has a pair of cross strips 26, 21 secured on its upper surface for properly positioning the typewriter and to hold it against shiftinglaterally when the typewriter is being used. The strip 21 is adjustable toward and away from strip 2-6 so that any one of several widths of typewriters can be positioned between the strips, the screws 28 (Fig. 3) being adapted to hold the strip 21 in adjusted position, said strip being formed with slots 29 for said screws. 1

At the rear end of the platform M and adjacent the rear corners is a pair of similar expansion spiral springs 30 that have one end of each secured to the platform adjacent each of said corners. The opposite ends of said springs are preferably secured to the sides 8, 9 of the drawer near the upper edges of said sides and forwardly relative to said rear corners when the platform is in its lowered position on portions l0, ll. These springs 36 function like counterbalances for the weight of the typewriter, thereby greatly facilitating the raising of the typewriter platform with the typewriter thereon to elevated position of the platform.

When the platform l4 reaches the elevated position best seen in Fig. 6, a finger operated spring latch 3| is adapted to automatically engage hook 32 (Fig. 5) carried on the front panel 6, thereby holding the platform elevated until the finger actuatable handle 33 of the latch is actuated. This handle is close to the handle 24 that is used for elevating the platform, so that the operator may simultaneously hold the handle 24 while actuating the latch.

Unless the platform I4 is relatively close and in substantially sliding engagement with the side walls 8, 9 of the drawer, there may be a tendency under certain conditions for the platform to tilt as to become slightly canted relative to horizontal under the unequally distributed weight of the typewriter. This tendency is overcome by means of opposedly opening channel strips 35 (Fig. 6) secured tosides 8, 9 adjacent the front and rear ends of the platform. Rods 38 may respectively extend through rib I! (Fig. 3) and through the rear end of the platform with rollers on their ends extending into the channel strips between the sides thereof. The strips are curved to conform to the normal paths of travel of said rollers during swinging of the platform to and from elevated position. Thus the movement of the platform is made easier and the platform is stabilized at all times for holding it horizontal.

It has already been mentioned that the bottom portion ll of the drawer is adapted to engage the cross bar 5 of the pedestal to prevent accidental complete withdrawal of the drawer from the pedestal. In as much as the typewriter might be severely injured, particularly its carriage, were the operator to attempt to close the drawer when the typewriter is elevated, this objection is overcome by providing extensions 37 on the ends of links 2i (Figs. 5, 6) that will swing down across the side of cross bar 5 when the platform is elevated, thereby locking the drawer to the bar 5 until the platform is lowered. This locking and unlocking is automatic with elevating and lowering platform I4.

The upper edge of side 9 of the drawer is preferably cut away or recessed from about the front panel 6 to a point over the rear end of recess l3 so as to remove any possible interference by said side with manipulation of the typewriter keys. However, a substantial length of the full width of side 9 remains between said recesses and the rear end of the drawer to insure proper sliding of the drawer between its slides, and to hold the drawer rigid and horizontal when extended.

anew-ice:

'When the said platform-l 4 iselevated, its upper surface at its rear end will substantially engage a cross frame member till-that is at the rear end of the portion of the upper edge of the side 9 that is relieved. This cross frame member also functions to hold the drawer rigid.

When the'platform M is in lowered position thesame and the typewriter thereon arefully disposed within the laterally projected confines of the front panel 6 and side wall 8 and the drawer may be freely slid into the pedestal like any other drawer. Upon pulling the drawer out to extendedposition (Fig. 1) the platform 14 is in-a position obstructing movement of the operators knees into recess :3, and the typewriterisnot accessible for typing. However, upon pulling upwardly'on handle 24 the platform it will immediately swing upwardly to the position seen in Fig. 2 and will be releasably locked in this elevated position and also the drawer-will be releasably locked in its extended position. Both locking actions are automatic and are caused by swinging of the platform to elevated position.

In elevated position the platform M is at the correct typing height, although below the level of the table top and above the bottom of the drawer. Also the raising of the platform and typewriter automatically clears the recess 13 to receive the knees of the operator. The operator seated at the desk may readily swing from the desk to the drawer for alternately typing and working at the desk without inconvenience to himself or disturbance of any work that is on the table.

'As the drawer carrying the typewriter functions like any other drawer, except for the means for locking the drawer in extended position, it is merely a matter of replacing the typewriter drawer with a conventional drawer, if the user desires, in order to convert the desk to a conventional desk. In otherwords, the desk drawer of this invention does not impair the desk for. use of a conventional drawer if the user should dispose of his typewriter and desire to use the space occupied by the drawer in the usual manner.

It is to be understood that the drawings and description are notto be considered as beingrestrictive of the invention, but merely illustrative thereof.

We claim:

I 1. A horizontally elongated drawer adapted to slide longitudinally thereof into and out of a desk comprising a horizontal platform. for holding a typewriter upright thereon for movement therewith, a main frame including opposed side frame members and a front and arear frame member respectively connecting the corresponding ends of-said side frame members, means swingingly supporting said platform on said frame between said front and said rear-frame member for generally vertical movement upwardly from a lowered position to an elevated position and vice versa, means for releasably securing said platform in said elevated position, and a portion of the lower edge of one of said side frame members for a substantial distance between its ends being appreciably elevated above the said lowered position of said platform to provide knee space below said portion for the knees of an operator when the platform is in elevated position, saidportion beingat about the height of the said elevated 'po sition of said platform.

2. A horizontally elongated drawer adapted to slide longitudinally thereof into and out of a desk comprising. a horizontal. platform for holding. a

typewriterwuprightlthereonrforvmovenient there ing ends of said side frame members,- means swinglnglys supporting:v said-platform son said frame between said front. and :saidrear' frame member for lgenerally'vertical movement of said platform in. an .arcuate. path: upwardly from. a. lowered position to .an elevated position and vice.

versa, mea-ns for releasably securingv said'xplatform in said. elevated. posi tion,xand. a portionof the lower: edge of one :of said. side: frame members for a substantial: distance .between its ends being appreciablyelevatedwabove the said" lowered position of said platform to provide kneespace below-said portion fors'the knees. of an, operator when the platform: is in-; elevated position, said portionzbeing at-about the height; of the. said elevated position of "said platform, .arcuately extending channel strips carried by said-side membersand elements on. said platformuextending.

into the channel openingsof said strips .andsecured'to oppositeendslrof saidplatformfor stabilizing said platform during: said .movementrfrom said lowered position :to said-elevatedposition A desk comprising; a horizontal platform-for holding atypewriter upright thereon 'for movement therewith, a main frame:includingropposed.side frame members and. airfrontvandl a rear'frame member respectively connecting the corresponding' ends of saidxside. frame; members, means swingingly supporting said platform. on. said frame between. said front andv said rear frame member. for generallyx-verticals.movement yupwardly from a lowered position to an elevated position andvvice. versa,:..means for. .releasably securing said platformzr-in said. elevated position, and. a portion of. the lower edgeof-one of. said side frame members fora substantial distancebetween its endsubeing appreciably elevated. above the said lowered position of said: platformzto provide knee 'spacetbelowl said portionfor the knees of anzoperator' when' thexplatf-orm.-.is.in elevated. position,rsaid portion being. at, about the height .of the said elevated: :positionyof said platform,v said front frame member being: a, rigid vertical .panelproviding a closure. for. theiront end. of the drawer, and the. said elevated and lowered positions. of "said platform being: entirely within. the lateral-ly projectedconfines of said panel at all times.

. 4. A horizontallylel-ongated drawer adapted'to slide longitudinally thereof into. and out of a desk comprising a vertical front endpanel and a horizontally elongatedsvertical sidepanel of equal vertical widthsconnected atione end .of each, horizontal:platform providing a bottom for said draweradapted to support a typewriter thereon ina positionv with said typewriter fully-disposed within thenlaterally. projected confines ofsaid end panel :and side panel, anendframe member and. a side frame :membersecured togetherat one end of each and respectively opposed to -said end panel and side. panel and respectively connected at their-opposite ends 'thereto, a portion of the-loweredge-of-said-side frame member for a substantialfldistance between the ends ofthe latter-being? elevated arsubstantial distance above said platform. whens-said platform is in its lowest position; means. supporting said platform f orgenerally: verticall -movement from said: lowest. position in which it is adjacent the lower edges of said front end panel and said side panel to a position at substantially the level of said portion of the lower edge of side frame member and vice versa.

5. In a typewriter desk having a top and a pedestal below one end thereof provided with a drawer opening adjacent said top, a horizontally elongated drawer slidable longitudinally thereof through said opening from an extended position projecting from said pedestal and outwardly of said top to a closed position within said pedestal, said drawer having a vertical front wall integral therewith for fully closing said opening when said drawer is in said pedestal, a platform for supporting a typewriter within said drawer and below said top when said drawer is in said closed position, means for securing said platform within said drawer and for supporting it for generally vertical upward movement when said drawer is in said extended position to an elevated position, vertically disposed opposed side wall members on said drawer extending horizontally away from the lateral edges of said front wall and past two opposite edges of said platform into said pedestal, one of said side wall members being formed with a downwardly opening recess where it passes said platform for providing access from one side of said drawer to the space directly below said platform when said drawer is in said extended position and the platform is elevated to give knee room for an operator, said space being obstructed ,by said platform when said platform is loweredfrom said elevated position for movement of said drawer to said closed position.

6. In a typewriter desk having a top and a pedestal below one end thereof providedwith a drawer opening adjacent said top, a horizontally elongated drawer slidable longitudinally thereof through said opening from an extended position projecting from said pedestal and outwardly of said top to a closed position within said pedestal, a platform for supporting a typewriter within said drawer and below said top when said drawer is in said closed position, means for securing said platform within said drawer and for supporting it for generally vertical upward movement when said drawer is in said extended position to an elevated position, a recess formed in one side of said drawer for providing access from said one side of said drawer to the space directly below said platform when said drawer is in said extended position and the platform is elevated to give knee room for an operator, said space being obstructed by said platform when said platform is lowered from said elevated position for movement of said drawer to said closed position, means for locking said drawer in said extended position against longitudinal movement thereof in either opposite direction when said platform is in said elevated position, said last mentioned means including a portion of said pedestal below said drawer and a portion of the said means for securing said platform in said drawer and for supporting the platform for said vertical movement.

7. In a typewriter desk having a top and a pedestal below one end thereof provided with a drawer opening adjacent said top, a horizontally elongated drawer including two opposed side walls and a front wall slidable longitudinally thereof through said opening from an extended position projecting from said pedestal and outwardly of saidtop to a closed position within said pedestal, a platform for supporting a typewriter within said drawer and below said top when said drawer is in said closed position, means including a pair of parallel links for securing said platform within said drawer and for supporting it for generally vertical upward movement when said drawer is in said extended position toan elevated position, said links being pivotally connected at one end of each to the sides of said drawer respectively and being pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the end of said platform that is remote from said front wall, engaging stop elements respectively on said drawer and pedestal for limiting outward move ment of said drawer to said extended position and locking means on one of said links automatically engaging the said stop means that is on said pedestal when said platform is in said elevated position for locking said drawer against movement from said extended position to said closed position, said locking means being movable to a position releasing said drawer for said movement to said closed position upon downward movement of said platform to its lowered position within the drawer.

8. In a typewriter desk having a top and a pedestal below one end thereof provided with a drawer opening adjacent said top, a horizontally elongated drawer including two opposed side walls and a front wall slidable longitudinally thereof through said opening from an extended position projecting from said pedestal and outwardly of said top to a closed position within said pedestal, a platform for supporting a typewriter within said drawer and below said top when said drawer is in said closed position, means including a pair of parallel links for securing said platform within said drawer and for supporting it for generally vertical upward movement when said drawer is in said extended position to an elevated position, said links being pivotally connected at one end of each to the sides of said drawer respectively and being pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the end of said platform that is remote from said front wall, engaging stop elements respectively on said drawer and pedestal for limiting outward movement of said drawer to said extended position and locking means on one of said links automatically engaging the said stop means that is on said pedestal when said platform is in said elevated position for locking said drawer against movement from said extended position to said closed position, said locking means being movable to a position releasing said drawer for said movement to said closed position upon downward movement of said platform to its lowered position within the drawer, opposed pairs of opposedly opening channel strips secured to opposite inner sides of said drawer, and elements carried by said platform projecting into the open sides thereof for stabilizing said platform during said movement, said channel stripsbeing curved to follow the path of movement of said elements.

9. In a desk having a top and a pedestal below one end thereof and which desk isprovided with a drawer opening adjacent said top, a horizontally elongated drawer adapted to slide longitudinally thereof through such opening from an extended position projecting from such pedestal and outwardly of such top to a closed position within such pedestal, said drawer including a vertical front end wall movable therewith adapted for fully closing said opening when said drawer is in said closed position, a platform within said drawer for supporting a typewriter V thereon and below said top when said drawer is in said closed position, means for securing said platform within said drawer and for supporting it for generally upward movement when said drawer is in said extended position to an elevated position, said drawer further including side members extending horizontally from the ends of said front end wall and alongside two opposite edges of said platform into said pedestal, the portion of one of said side members alongside one of said side edges being at a level substantially above one of said side edges of said platform when the latter is in lowered position in said drawer and substantially at the same level as said platform when the latter is elevated and the space below said platform and said portion being entirely unobstructed when said platform is in said elevated position whereby the knees of an operator alongside said drawer may freely enter said space from one side of said drawer, said space being obstructed by said platform when the latter is lowered into said drawer for moving the latter to said closed position.

10. A drawer for sliding into a desk comprising, a vertical front wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of side frame members extending parallel and horizontally from the opposite lateral edges of said front wall, said bottom wall including a horizontal typewriterplatform in a lowered position at a level about even with the lower edge of said front wall, means supporting said platform for generally vertical movement from said lowered position to an elevated horizontal position nearer the top edge of said front wall than said lower edge, said side frame members being arranged to extend past opposite side edges of said platform and the portion of one of said members extending past one of said side edges of said platform being substantially elevated above said edge when said platform is in said lowered position and at about the level of said edge when said platform is in said elevated position, the space below said platform and said portion being unobstructed when said platform is in said elevated position whereby access to said space is provided for the knees of an operator sitting alongside said drawer.

11. In a desk having a horizontal top and a horizontally extending elongated drawer below said top having front and rear end walls and a pair of opposed side walls rigidly connecting said front and rear end walls, means supporting said drawer for horizontal movement longitudinally thereof from a closed position in which the upper edge of said front end wall is in substantially adjoining relation to the under surface of said table to an extended position in which the major length of said drawer between said front and rear end walls projects laterally from below said top, a horizontal platform within said drawer adapted to support a typewriter therein in a posi- Number tion disposed wholly within the laterally projected area of said front and wall, means supporting said platform on said drawer for bodily upward movement of said platform to an elevated position in which said typewriter will project substantially above the upper edge of said front wall, said front end wall being rigid between its upper- ,most and lowermost edges at all times, and the upper edge of one of said side walls being substantially lower than the upper edge of said front end wall along the portion that is adapted to extend past a typewriter on said platform.

12. In a desk having a top and a pedestal below one end thereof provided with a drawer opening adjacent said top, a horizontally elongated drawer slidable longitudinally thereof through said opening from an extended position projecting from said pedestal and outwardly of said top to a closed position within said pedestal, said drawer including a front end wall rigid with said drawer and movable therewith from said extended position to said closed position fully closing said opening when in said latter position with its upper edge closely adjacent said top, a horizontal platform for supporting a typewriter within said drawer with said typewriter wholly disposed within the laterally projected area of said front end wall when said drawer is in its closed posi tion, means carried by said drawer supporting said platform for swinging said platform upwardly to an elevated position in which said platform is still within the laterally projected area of said front wall and in which elevated position a typewriter on said platform projects substantially above said front wall when said drawer is in said extended position, one of the edges of said platform being substantially in engagement with the inner lateral side of said front end wall when said platform is in said elevated position thereby preventing movement of said platform past said front end wall in a direction longitudinally of said drawer.

CLEMENTE BALZI.

PAUL JURAVC'OFF.

CHESTER H. RISTENPART.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Apr. 14, 1916 Number 153,438 548,639 558,388 569,259 569,914 

